Arruebarruena defected from Cuba in November and held workouts for MLB teams in December. He’s considered an elite defensive shortstop, but there are lots of questions about how his hitting will translate to the majors.

Because he’s 24 years old the spending won’t count against the international limits, giving the Dodgers a way to spend all that cash they have sitting around. Earlier this offseason the Dodgers signed another Cuban middle infielder, Alexander Guerrero, for $28 million, and in 2012 they dropped $42 million on Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Don’t think he’ll swing a deal anything close to what Puig or Guerrero got, but feels like a good addition for the Dodgers….Seems as though they have waited long enough for Dee Gordon, and when Hanley Ramirez inevitably moves to 3B a plus-fielding SS would be much appreciated by the billion dollar pitching staff. The Dodgers will always be a team built around pitching, and even if he doesn’t hit he’ll still help them win a lot of 2-1 & 3-2 games….and another Cuban can help Guerreo assimilate and maybe even calm the Wild Horse a bit….